Commentaries

December 2018

New Jefferson Commentaries Make Case for Tax Reform —
In two new Thomas Jefferson Institute commentaries published on opposite sides of the state, Institute scholars make the case for tax reform in Virginia. In a commentary originally published in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, Institute president Michael W. Thompson points out that the new "tax windfall" coming to Virginia as a result of federal tax changes is not factored into the current General Fund budget and that significant tax cuts could take place without reducing any of today's government programs. Read Mike Thompson's Commentary Here!

Meanwhile Institute Senior Fellow for State and Local Tax Policy Stephen D. Haner points out in a commentary originally published in the Roanoke Times that doubling the standard deduction would affect the most Virginians and particularly help low-income wage earners. Read Steve Haner's Commentary Here!

October 2018

Jefferson Journal: Tax Conformity Alone Is Not Enough — By Stephen D. Haner When the General Assembly meets in January, it should fully conform Virginia's tax system to the new federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but it shouldnot stop there. It should also take immediate steps to reduce the state tax increases that conforming the tax code will automatically create for many Virginia families and businesses. (10/4/2018) Read It Here!

April 2018

The Jefferson Journal: Want to Honor Barbara Bush? Read to a Child. — By Chris Braunlich "So there's a reading circle and all the kids have a book and they're passing the book kid to kid and they passed it to me and I couldn't read." That's a dyslexic Neil Bush, describing the moment his mother took on the challenge of literacy and reading. (4/25/2018) Read It Here!